Rudy: I Might Not Even Have To Win Florida
Just how panicked is Rudy Giuliani starting to look? After initially trying to play in various other states and then pulling out in order to bet it all on Florida, he's now downplaying the need to win a primary even in Florida.
In an interview on Fox News today, Rudy was asked by Neil Cavuto if he needed to win in the Sunshine State. "I don't think any candidate ever puts himself in a corner and says, must win, have to win, must win," Rudy said.
More tidbits of news from the Florida GOP primary after the jump.
• Romney said he was sad to see Fred Thompson go — as if he's already courting Fred's supporters, despite all the times Fred ridiculed him for changing his positions.
• Rudy complained that "John voted against the Bush tax cuts twice because John doesn't embrace supply side economics the way I do."
• Romney said McCain has no record on job growth.
• Rudy's top endorser in the state said McCain is "out of touch" with the state for opposing a national catastrophe insurance fund.
• Mike Huckabee has actually cut down his spending in the state, though he insisted he's not actually pulling out — it makes sense, in that he's quite conspicuously refrained from attacking McCain
Comments (24)
balls wrote on January 22, 2008 6:46 PM:The Dems at the next debate should ask that any republican candidate who supports George Bush and his republican policies,
should wear a
white ribbon
on their lapel
at the following republican debate.
The MSM WOULD GO ABSOLUTELY APESHIT
in anticipation.
Rudy's "all-in" Florida gambit is now 99% likely to have been the single stupidest tactic in recent electoral history.
One month largely out of the free media, poll numbers in free fall, that ugly "the world wavered, but I never did" ad last week...
What a colossal blunder. If he manages to pull off Florida, it will be because one of the other frontrunners screws up, not due to the inherent genius of this moronic "strategy."
Anonymous wrote on January 22, 2008 7:05 PM:Huckabee should have focused on South Carolina and Florida, rather than wasting time and money in Michigan. Looks like it's going to be Romney v. McCain after Feb. 5.
rg wrote on January 22, 2008 8:00 PM:I'm really enjoying watching the republicans right now - it seems the most offensive ones are falling and the one with the most integrity is rising. While very sadly, on the democratic side - it seems the dirtier and more dishonest candidate is doing the best. And our ex-president is raging and attacking. How ironic if this year - when we should be in great shape - we become the bad guys. I think I'll stick to watching the republicans. I'm getting so depressed watching Hillary.
Republican Attack Machine wrote on January 22, 2008 8:17 PM:It's nice to know that blatant fascists can't win in the states.
Madorsky wrote on January 22, 2008 8:35 PM:Does he have to win in New York to be a viable candidate? Does he have to win the Brooklyn Caucus, or Yankee Stadium?
eorse wrote on January 22, 2008 9:33 PM:What I found disturbing last night was the difference of time.
If you review the tape, you will see Wolf "Idiot" Blitzer gave Hillary to ALWAYS finish her talking points. He NEVER tells her that she has 30-seconds to respond.
Yet, he would repeat this to Obama and Edwards.
Why cannot they have an automated timer on the stand of the candidate. Thus, the viewer watching TV can see the running time taken by the preferred candidate of reporters, such as Wolf.
Ian Faith wrote on January 22, 2008 9:36 PM:"The gig in Boston got cancelled, but don't worry... it's not a big college town."
Anonymous wrote on January 22, 2008 10:32 PM:Rudy Giuliani will look ridiculous when he loses.
He will be remembered as the guy with the big mouth, shameless self promoter, who talked big and accomplished little.
I'm making an outside bet, that his current 3rd wife leaves him after it is obvious that Rudy has no political future and his hard fall from power.
Fred Thompson was twice as competent to be POTUS as he dropped out with twice the single digit support that Rudy has.
Even Ron Paul will fare better in hostory, Rudy a loser, Paul a footnote of a political movement.
At least to save himself embarrasment he didn't tick 911, but it will be interesting when he does drop out if he mentions it, even though I would never vote for him, it is painful to watch the guy, so I hope he spares us all and can manage to drop out gracefully....
Fred Smart, realist.
Rudy, quite possibly delusional.
Dear Josh :
I just read your comments on the 'Horse Race' aspects of your coverage.
I think you are right to say there never was a golden age during which policy debates decided elections.
In early Athens, when democracy was young, the Sophists prevailed. Sophistry is the means to convince people to vote one's way by any means - bullying, false logic, exaggeration, innuendo, you name it. In response to this came proper rhetoric and logic ...
Sophistry survives to this day, for example, on right wing broadcasts. The effort is to win the race, not to be correct.
Democratic elections will always be horse races and will never be free from Sophistry.
Highbrow meets lowbrow - that is the fun part of elections.
When I see an article like this I feel like Christopher Walken at the end of The Dead Zone. So long President Tillson.
jake wrote on January 23, 2008 1:30 AM:The ultimate position will be that Il Duce don't need no stinkin voters.
Paul wrote on January 23, 2008 8:57 AM:Rudy is forked. He has been for awhile, especially after scoring 3% in Michigan, but the brain dead mass media just repeated his "do or die "Florida strategy over & over.
That storyline is a lie, as he spent over $2 million in NH & made over 100 apearences there.
America respects a man who tries his best & sticks it out, but never one that runs away.
Hemlock for Gadflies wrote on January 23, 2008 9:23 AM:Rudy is like that guy who, when he stumbles over his own two feet on the sidewalk, looks at a stranger and says, "I meant to do that."
sj dowling wrote on January 23, 2008 9:25 AM:Flip 'em over, he's done! All Rudy is doing now is destroying his shot at the VP spot. The longer he stays in, the worse he looks.
anonymous wrote on January 23, 2008 9:26 AM:Everyone always seems to be lamenting the Clinton "dirty tricks", negativity, attacks, etc. This is how politics are played, and how they are always played. Ms. Clinton is simply a better politician, a smarter person, and much more on top of her game than is Mr. Obama. Clinton will win, and I hope all of you Democrats who swoon over Obama will support the nominee when the time comes. If you do not, it'll be at least another four years of not achieving any of our progressive goals.
Anonymous wrote on January 23, 2008 9:45 AM:yeah, she may be the "better politician," the "smarter person," (both very debatable contentions) but given the amount of scorn she and her supporters have heaped on Obama and his, don't be surprised if she's not the President-elect in November.
It's not like she hasn't already united half the country against her. Tick off a few independents here and there (and you don't think she's going to do that?), and you can stick a fork in her.
Liam wrote on January 23, 2008 9:52 AM:Hillary is our Donald Rumsfeld. They both tout their long experience, and how that makes them superior to every one else, and only they have the solutions, but both of them failed miserably on the biggest tasks they took complete charge of. Rumsfeld on Iraq, and Hillary on Health Care reform.
Hillary Donald Rodham Rumsfeld Clinton.
The Hubris Axis without a clue.
MaxCat wrote on January 23, 2008 10:58 AM:Hillary failed at National Health Care? Talk about naive.
Jesus Christ himself would have failed at trying to implement a National Health Care because the corporations that make a killng off of all of our labor via their blood sucking at our health care expenses will never allow anyone or anything to fix what is wrong with our system of health care payment.
Wake up and stop being played for the simplton fool.
Rude-ee . . . If you lose 45 more states then the Fascist Five can ask the 9-11 gawd to appoint you dictator for eternity.
Go Rude-ee!
Anonymous wrote on January 23, 2008 12:23 PM:jake wrote on January 23, 2008 1:30 AM:
The ultimate position will be that Il Duce don't need no stinkin voters.
too damn funny
stinky mcgee wrote on January 23, 2008 1:59 PM:Couldn't have happened to a nastier prick.
nygrump wrote on January 23, 2008 3:23 PM:if rudy wins Fl it will be thanks to all his retired mobster allies and old family friends.
enzo wrote on January 23, 2008 4:41 PM:I hope Rudy doesn't truly know something that we don't.
Cheney could resign and Rudy could be made the incumbent VP...
Or, Bush-Cheney-Gates could attack Iran, maybe nuke it, loosing the Hez b'Allah death squads on the USA the way they attacked us in Beirut 1983, killing over 240 with a truck bomb, or attacked Jewish kids and teachers in Buenos Aires in 1994, killing 80. Maybe they'd get the Anthrax Attacker to pull another stunt, causing an invisible plague, causing martial law in the USA.
Tommy Franks discussed suspending elections due to emergency. Rudolph Ghouliani wanted to extend his term in 2002, beyond his term limit, because 'only' he could be the Mayor 'in such an emergency.' Bloomberg did just fine with out the Ghoul, while offending fewer, and respecting the Constitution more.
Giuliani would make Bush-Cheney look like Liberals with keen senses of propriety and ethics. I wouldn't put it beyond them to foment, use, and/or concoct an emergency to extend their term and install the Ghoul.
